When you have the opportunity to ask some of the most interesting people in the world about their lives, sometimes the most fascinating answers come from the simplest questions. The Thrive Questionnaire is an ongoing series that gives an intimate look inside the lives of some of the world’s most successful people.
Thrive Global: What’s the first thing you do when you get out of bed?
Hilary Swank: Kiss my dogs.
TG: What gives you energy?
HS: Exercise.
TG: What’s your secret life hack?
HS: I stack my clothes (t-shirts and tank tops) vertically in my drawers so I can see everything. Not much of a secret, but it works!
TG: Name a book that changed your life.
HS: When Things Fall Apart By Pema Chodron.
TG: Tell us about your relationship with your phone. Does it sleep with you?
HS: I keep my phone in a separate room so I completely release myself from the day and into restful sleep.
TG: How do you deal with email?
HS: Emails have become the way of life in business so it’s important that I stay on top of them. I have a hard time keeping up with them but do the best I can. I spend so much time on airplanes that I find that time as good “catch up” on emails.
TG: You unexpectedly find 15 minutes in your day, what do you do with it?
HS: I’ve been trying my best to slow down when I can as life goes at such a fast pace and there’s so many things I want to do. So if I find an unexpected 15 minutes I will either meditate or call someone I love and tell them how much I love them…or ideally both!
TG: When was the last time you felt burned out and why?
HS: I think it’s easy to find ourselves burned out in different capacities of our lives at any time. Sometimes it’s work, sometimes it’s relationally and sometimes it’s the two together. It’s usually from the lack of giving myself the personal time and space I need to stay centered and focused, to take care of myself so I’ve been working hard these past few years to really ensure I’m taking breaks throughout the year to recharge and recenter.
TG: When was the last time you felt you failed and how did you overcome it?
HS: I don’t really like using the term “fail” because I think every opportunity, whether it goes “our way” or not is leading us down the path we are meant to take. I believe it’s how I choose to learn from so called “failures” and grow from the experience to be stronger or make better choices the next time.
TG: Share a quote that you love and that gives you strength or peace.
HS: You have brains in your head and feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself anyway you choose. — Dr Seuss.
There’s also my personal mantra I live by daily….Make a choice, make it happen.
Hilary Swank is an Academy Award winning actress and producer who has recently added designer to her resume. In addition to recently launching her clothing line Mission Statement, she will next be seen in Steven Soderbergh’s “Logan Lucky” and the original STARZ series, “The One Percent,” created by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Originally published at journal.thriveglobal.com